English grammar explanations (questions and short answers to be).

Understanding how to make questions and use short answers in English with the verb to be.

The basics - structure:

The verb to be and the subject are reversed in questions (inversion):

Affirmative:
I You He She It We They	am are is is is are are	English.

Questions:
Am Are Is Is Is Are Are	I you he she it we they	English?

I am tired.
Are you tired?

She is English.
Is she English?

He is from Barcelona.
Is he from Barcelona?

We are at university.
Are we at university?

They are cold.
Are they cold?

John is hungry.
Is John hungry?

John and Mary are at home.
Are John and Mary at home?

The short answer with the verb to be.

If we answer yes or no to a question in English, we usually repeat the verb to be in the answer. In the negative form, there is often contraction between the verb to be or between the subject and the word not:

Are you tired?
Yes, I am.
No, I am not / No, I'm not.

Is she English?
Yes, she is.
No, she is not / No, she's not / No, she isn't.

Is he from Barcelona?
Yes, he is.
No, he is not / No, he's not / No, he isn't.

Are we at university?
Yes, we are.
No, we are not / No, we're not / No we aren't.

Are they cold?
Yes, they are.
No, they are not / No, they're not / No they aren't.

Is John hungry?
Yes, he is.
No, he is not / No, he's not / No, he isn't.

Are John and Mary at home?
Yes, they are.
No, they are not / No, they're not / No they aren't.

Objects in singular and plural use the pronouns it and they respectively:

Is it new?
Yes, it is.
No, it is not / No, it's not / No, it isn't.

Is the book old?
Yes, it is.
No, it is not / No, it's not / No, it isn't.

Are they on the shelf?
Yes, they are.
No, they are not / No, they're not / No they aren't.

Are the cakes in the cupboard?
Yes, they are.
No, they are not / No, they're not / No they aren't.

- More on short answers...

- Exercises on short answers...